The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961)

Directed by José Quintero. Starring Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty, Lotte Lenya, Coral Browne, Jill St. John, Stella Bonheur.

Aging, recently-widowed American actress Leigh is staying in Rome when she’s introduced to a self-absorbed Italian gigolo (Beatty). They begin an affair, she falls in love, but no matter how much she spoils him with expensive gifts, he does not love her back. Pretty but sluggish and emotionally-vapid romantic drama based on a Tennessee Williams novel (not a play). Leigh’s dotty nuances can’t sharpen the lusterless features of her monotonous character, and Beatty’s accent sounds like it belongs in a Mel Brooks movie, but Lenya’s dignity survives intact playing the wealthy friend of Mrs. Stone from whose stable the young man emerged. Ambiguous finale doesn’t fit, but at least it offers a fleeting thrill of the unknown. Co-scripted by Gavin Lambert.

44/100